Stage 3...and MRA with contrast?

[hj1122]

My cardiologist has set me up for a MRA with contrast. He says 1/2 dose of contrast is ok for me (Stage 3). I don't feel good about doing this. I have been trying for a week to get in touch with my nephrology doc without success. I am leaning toward just not doing the MRA at all. I had an UlraSound of my Carotid and they found plaque and want to do the MRA test to confirm, and evaluate the amount of blockage that may be there. So, question MRA with contrast???? Yes or NO.

[jodaer]

I had to look up MRA. I had never heard that one before. I can't say yea or nay. That must be your decision but what I've found is as we get older, more things start to go wrong and often we just have to make a decision on what is best for overall health. Myself, at stage 3 I would choose to get the MRA. Heart failure or kidney failure? Hard choice. I will say that I'm surprised that they couldn't tell the amount of blockage with the ultrasound. I've had a couple of those and they indicated the amount of blockage.

[hj1122 in reply to jodaer]

The estimated blockage was 70%. But MRA will show more accurate number. Decision, decision, decision. Thank you for the input. Still waiting to hear from my Nephrologist.

[jodaer in reply to hj1122]

Good luck... let us know how it goes and what you decide on?

[Marvin8]

I wouldn't do a dang thing before talking to my nephrologist and expressing real concern about the potential for contrast die kidney damage. The nephrologist in concert with the cardiologist should put your mind at ease before you undergo the procedure.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to Marvin8]

I know when I was in stage three I had the contrast with dye but my was to check cause I already had aneurysm and we were watching other aneurysm I had. My kidney doc told me when I got to stage four not to have anymore . Your kidney can’t flush out the dye. And right now I’m on stage 5 they said they will wait on the heart cath I need that the transplant center wanted me to have cause if my age but if I had it it would be directly into dialysis and it been a year and half with no diaylis yet for me so it a personal choice that should be made with you and doctor to see what the risk are. Could they do it without an contrast I know they told me that the cat scan they did without contrast wouldn’t show what they wanted to see when I had it for my transplant eval but they did it anyway ( this was on abdomen and it show more then they thought they said so ask it it possible without contrast I’m not sure if an mra.

[Pontios in reply to Beachgirl32]

As Marvin8 said I would not go ahead without input from my Nephrologist. On risk of cardiac versus kidney issues apparently those of us who end up on dialysis are considered the lucky ones in that we have not died of cardiac issues beforehand. I recall getting angiographies and angioplasties in Ireland and then later in Germany and being surprised that in Germany I was put on an infusion afterwards for 24hr to flush out the contrast medium. Maybe that is standard procedure now. I am stage 4 now and do not let anyone put contrast medium in. I have had to fight for this on a few occasions with medical technicians who seemed to want to implement their standard procedure irrespective. There is a Nephrologist here who has stated that based on his research 60% of CKD is medically induced. So survival as a CKD patient requires constant vigilance and questioning any meds or treatments doctors other than Nephrologist want to give you

[Pontios in reply to Pontios]

sorry, I meant to reply to the general post

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

No one on this site can tell you for sure that the MRA with contrast is OK. I can tell you from my own experience that my nephrologist has me drink more water than normal after having an MRI with contrast. He had me repeat my labs a week later. For me at least everything turned out fine. For you, I would think that this test is pretty important to find out the results. Maybe the cardiologist could have an IV help flush your kidneys after the test.

Keep trying to reach your nephrologist and see what he has to say. They can do the MRA without contrast, but things don't show up as well.

[Green306]

Yes, be careful. I know a friend with ckd who had contrast dye for a procedure which she refused. They gave it anyway and it destroyed what little function she had.